Better to bend than to break.
Thus goes a wise saying! And it must be true for most things. Today, I’d like to share a photograph and another memory that goes with it.
It was early April. Probably, Day Five of our road trip on the scenic Garden Route. We were headed down to the Storms River Suspension bridge, at Tsitsikamma, in South Africa, through a 1-km walk on a wooden walkway which had brought us to this amazing place, very popular as a viewing point and totally swarming with tourists. While the rest of the group of travellers were busy taking photographs of the gurgling waters and a bunch of rafters down below, I was drawn by this strange-looking tree that was completely bent sideways but seemed to have found its own vertical path to shoot up and catch the sunlight. I walked up to it and thought the sheer scale of the tree belied every belief as to how it was so delicately yet, so gracefully hanging by the edge of the walkway. The tree was beautiful and my belief was that it must have felt a strong urge to thrive through the odds that blocked its’ growth, hence found its’ way up. How wonderful I thought! Trees don’t talk or else this tree would have had an amazing story to share with us, humans.
Amazed at the resilience with which it stood up, to defy its fate, I felt a surge of inspiration to grab a quick shot and smile to myself, at the beautiful lesson it had just taught me, rather unwittingly! Travel is a great teacher. Not just for the journey that one takes but the things that one sees, while treading on the unfamiliar paths—down the nooks, corners and alleys that one has to take to reach the destination.
Have you ever seen a tree grow sideways like this and wondered why?
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Linking this to Thursday Tree love, which is a photo feature on Parul’s blog, hosted on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. The next edition will go live on June 11, 2020. If you would like to join her, all you have to do is post a picture of a tree (or trees, as you wish!) on your blog and link it back to her post.
Loved the picture Esha.. and your thoughts that go with it!
I so get it that while all others are busy with something else, trees capture the attention of folks like us 🙂
Even without speaking our language, trees amaze us with their ability to adapt. Thank you for sharing this tree with us.
What a beautiful one and i love the lessons. Thank you for both – the tree and your post.
I hope to see you back tomorrow, Esha!
Thanks for the kind words. Oh sure, Parul. Would love to join you this week. 😊
Beautiful, like you. <3
Inspiring quote to match this tree! Spotting trees in travels is something I always do!
I love that tree. I’ve been to SA twice, but never done the Garden Route. It is on my list for my next trip – hopefully in a couple of years it will be safe to travel. And I’m going to make a note of this walkway. Thanks!
What a concept you have there. If trees could talk. How wonderful that would be the wonderful beautiful stories they could tell and better yet how much we could learn. Great idea there girlfriend! Have a wonderful day and thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures.
Amazing sight of this artistic tree:) the quote is inspiring. Thanks for sharing:)
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a tree like that in my travels. I’ve seen trees growing out of buildings or little cracks in rocks, and the live oaks in our southern United States which can sprawl for meters, but nothing quite like what you captured.